There were plenty of small castles back in the medieval times and building them on hills was a strategic move. For the first time in a long time attackers actually have to struggle. They went about 0:6 which is good for attacking a castle imo. It was fun not to see attackers just going in and go 1:1 which seems very stupid. So a big no to removing small castles. The other points i can agree on.
And impossible is a strong word. The night before this GO went 1:1. So, blame the commanders not the map.
You have truly never played strategus. So this is what a realistic castle fight, like back in the medieval times, looks like?
Yes. I doubt that too. This castle also had only one stairway inside of it which lead up to the wall, so shooting holes into it with catapults was also useless.
I don´t want attackers and defenders to have the same chance, of course defenders should have a bit of advantage, but the castle shouldn´t be all mission impossible.
Btw small castles were mostly captured by patience; waiting outside until the defenders ran out of food. But that´s not possible in a game.